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Abstract:

A shelving layout concept which allows selective configuration and
reconfiguration of the orientation of certain shelving systems within the
central portion of a store to create a PrimeZone area including an
assembly of End Caps, Center Caps, Power Sets, Corner Boards, Hot Spots
and Banner Boards, the combination of which provides a solution for
enabling retailers to re-invigorate their Center Store, increase their
vendor promotional revenue, and increase their in-store sales due to more
favorable consumer response to greater promotional activity and the
continuing change of product venues in key areas of the store layout. The
concept also includes novel hardware which enables the reconfiguration of
the shelving layout to accommodate vendors' desire to change display
schemes.

Claims:

1. A PrimeZone store arrangement for a store design of the type normally
including a Center Store area having a plurality of long parallel rows of
product display systems including shelving or the like for displaying
products along customer walking aisles formed by the rows of product
display systems, comprising: a Center Store area including a plurality of
parallel rows of product display systems; breaks formed in at least a
first row and a second row adjacent said first row of the plurality of
parallel rows of product display systems; a first elongated product
display system having one end thereof disposed in engagement with a
display system forming one side of the break in said first row and
extending at a first angle relative to the length of said first row and
toward the break in said second row; a second elongated product display
system having one end thereof disposed in engagement with a display
system forming the other side of the break in said first row and
extending at a second angle relative to the length of said first row and
toward the break in said second row; and first means joining the other
ends of said first and second elongated display systems to form a first
alcove-like Power Set area within which to display products, said first
and second elongated display systems being separated from corresponding
sides of the break in said second row to form passageways connecting the
customer walking aisle disposed between said first and second rows and
the customer walking aisle disposed on an opposite side of the second
row.

2. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said first
means includes a third elongated display system having one end thereof
joined to the other end of said first elongated display system and a
second end joined to the other end of said second elongated display
system.

3. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 and further
including means forming a Hot Spot display unit disposed within a central
portion of said Power Set area.

4. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said first
elongated product display system includes means forming a first Center
Cap on the side thereof opposite the side facing said Power Set area.

5. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 4 wherein said
second elongated product display system includes means forming a second
Center Cap on the side thereof opposite the side facing said Power Set
area.

6. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein said first
means includes a third elongated display system having one end thereof
joined to the other end of said first elongated display system and a
second end joined to the other end of said second elongated display
system, and wherein said third elongated product display system includes
means forming a third Center Cap on the side thereof opposite the side
facing said Power Set area.

7. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 6 and further
including means forming a Hot Spot display unit disposed within a central
portion of said Power Set area.

8. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said
product display systems have a generally rectangular plan form and
include product display units on both sides, and wherein the engagement
between said one end of said first elongated product display system and
said display system forming one side of the break in said first row
accommodates the positioning of a first Corner unit between the facing
ends of the corresponding engaged display systems.

9. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 8 wherein the
engagement between said one end of said second elongated product display
system and said display system forming the other side of the break in
said first row accommodates the positioning of a second Corner unit
between the facing ends of the corresponding engaged display systems.

10. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 9 wherein said
first means includes a third elongated display system having one end
thereof joined to the other end of said first elongated display system by
a third Corner unit and another end thereof joined to the other end of
said second elongated display system by a fourth Corner unit.

11. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 and further
comprising: breaks formed in a third row adjacent said second row and in
a fourth row adjacent said third row of the plurality of long parallel
rows of product display systems in the Center Store area; a third
elongated product display system having one end thereof disposed in
engagement with a display system forming one side of the break in said
third row and extending at a first angle relative to the length of said
third row and toward the break in said fourth row; a fourth elongated
product display system having one end thereof disposed in engagement with
a display system forming the other side of the break in said third row
and extending at a third angle relative to the length of said third row
and toward the break in said fourth row; and second means joining the
other ends of said third and fourth elongated display systems to form a
second alcove-like Power Set area within which to display products, said
third and fourth elongated display systems being separated from
corresponding sides of the break in said third row to form passageways
connecting the customer walking aisle disposed between said third and
fourth rows and the customer walking aisle disposed on an opposite side
of the third row.

12. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 11 wherein said
third row is adjacent said second row.

13. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 11 wherein said
fourth row is adjacent said first row.

14. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein at least
said first elongated product display system and said second elongated
product display system are fitted with glider devices adapted to
facilitate movement of the product display systems from one position to
another.

15. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 14 wherein said
glider devices include: a cylindrical plug having threads formed on its
outer cylindrical surface, attachment means formed on one axial end
thereof for fixed engagement with a lower part of the product display
system, and a plurality of roller means disposed on the opposite axial
end thereof for rollingly engaging a surface supporting the display
system; and a sleeve having a threaded bore extending axially
therethrough and adapted to threadably receive said plug, whereby said
sleeve may be advanced from a retracted position on said plug to an
extended position engaging the supporting surface and raising said roller
means out of engagement with the supporting surface thereby leveling
and/or fixing the system in position relative to the surface.

16. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 15 wherein said
roller means are spherical in shape and said opposite axial end of said
plug is provided with sockets for matingly receiving the spherical roller
means.

17. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 and further
comprising means disposed within a central portion of said first Power
Set area defining a Hot Spot area.

18. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 12 and further
comprising means disposed within central portions of said first and
second Power Set areas defining Hot Spot areas.

19. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 1 and further
comprising means forming a first End Cap affixed to one side of the break
in said second row, said first End Cap being separated from said first
elongated product display system by a distance at least as wide as the
separation between said first and second rows of the plurality of long
parallel rows of product display systems.

20. A PrimeZone store arrangement as recited in claim 11 and further
comprising at least one Banner Board extending across the aisle
separating said second and third rows.

21. A process for providing a PrimeZone area in a Center Store of a
retail establishment, comprising: providing a plurality of product
display systems aligned in a plurality of long parallel rows defining
customer walkways therebetween; providing breaks in at least a first row
and a second row adjacent said first row of the plurality of long
parallel rows; providing a first elongated product display system having
one end thereof disposed in engagement with a display system forming one
side of the break in said first row and extending at an angle relative to
the length of said first row and toward the break in said second row;
providing a second elongated product display system having one end
thereof disposed in engagement with a display system forming the other
side of the break in said first row and extending at an angle relative to
the length of said first row and toward the break in said second row; and
providing a first means joining the other ends of said first and second
elongated display systems to form a first alcove-like Power Set area
within which to display products, wherein said first and second elongated
display systems are separated from corresponding sides of the break in
said second row to form passageways connecting the customer walking aisle
disposed between said first and second rows and the customer walking
aisle disposed on an opposite side of the second row.

22. A process as recited in claim 21 wherein said first means includes a
third elongated display system having one end thereof joined to the other
end of said first elongated display system and a second end thereof
joined to the other end of said second elongated display system.

23. A glider device, comprising: a cylindrical plug having threads formed
on its outer cylindrical surface, means formed on one axial end thereof
for facilitating attachment to an object to be supported above a
supporting surface by the glider device, and a plurality of roller means
affixed to the opposite axial end thereof; a sleeve having a threaded
bore extending axially therethrough and adapted to threadably receive
said plug, said sleeve being rotatable about said plug to advance from a
retracted position on said plug to an extended position raising said
roller means out of engagement with the object supporting surface.

24. A glider device as recited in claim 23 wherein the opposite axial end
of said plug includes a plurality of sockets, and said roller means
includes a plurality of spherically shaped roller balls disposed in said
sockets.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to retail store interior
design, and more specifically to a novel and improved layout of the
shelving and other means for holding and displaying goods for sale in a
PrimeZone portion of the central space of the store.

[0002] The present invention has broad applicability to many types of
retail establishments in which a wide variety of goods have historically
been placed on long rows of parallel racks or shelves orderly arranged
most often within a central portion of a large open room defined by
exterior walls. In most cases, special purpose rooms or areas are
positioned around the central space and proximate the surrounding walls.
Grocery stores selling packaged comestibles, household goods and other
products are an example of such establishment, but many other types of
retail stores follow a similar pattern and as will be apparent to the
reader, the present invention has broad applicability . . . .

[0003] As generally illustrated in FIG. 1 of the present Drawing, a
typical grocery store, schematically represented at 10, is usually
configured to include four basic components; namely, a "Backroom" area 12
that is usually at the back of the store and used for the receiving and
storage of product prior to its movement out to the display area; a
"Front End" area 14, usually located at the front of the store close to
the front doors 16 and often the area in which cash registers or other
check out facilities are positioned; a "Perimeter" area 18 that is
sometimes called the perishable perimeter because it typically includes
the meat, seafood, produce, dairy, deli, floral, and bakery departments;
and a "Center Store" area 20 in the center of the store and which
typically includes long rows of parallel shelving systems 22 wherein
grocery, frozen and refrigerated products, health and beauty Aids, wine,
liquor, and bulk items are displayed for sale. The shelving systems 22
are typically comprised of a plurality of movable or non-movable shelving
units 23 affixed together back-to-back and in series to form the several
rows of double-sided shelves shown in FIG. 1. Shelving units which are
intended to be movable are often referred to as "gondolas".

[0004] Alternatively, there are some retail store configurations that
comingle the various departments throughout the store due to store shell
format, or for merchandising differentiation from other stores. For
example, the produce area normally located in the Perimeter area 16 may
be positioned to replace all or part of a normal aisle shelving system
and extend down the middle of the center part of the store rather than
along the inside perimeter of the store building. But even in such
layouts, the produce cases are typically arrayed in linear formats
forming straight lines within the center of the store.

[0005] The Center Store area has traditionally been a difficult and boring
area of the store compared to the produce, deli and bakery sections
because its long aisles of shelving usually do not stimulate the consumer
to purchase other or more product than he or she came to buy.

[0006] The aisle spaces 24 are usually 5 to 7 feet in width, so as to
allow shopping carts to pass, and the shelving systems can be as high as
86''. Most contemporary shelving systems include 7 or 8 shelves aligned
and tied together in a row. Long rows of canned foods, packaged goods and
glass doors with product in frozen and refrigerated cases normally do not
stimulate consumers to spend more of their money in the store than they
would normally spend to accommodate their needs.

[0007] Center Store aisles are typically viewed by consumers as
shelf-lined walk ways along which consumers can walk to find a product,
put it in their shopping cart or basket, and then move on to the next
aisle to select the next product on their shopping list. The consumer
typically does not linger or explore these aisles as they are more likely
to do in a specialty cheese or bakery section.

[0008] When a traditionally configured new Center Store area is planned,
the shelving layout is normally designed to incorporate one of the two
major brands of linear shelving systems that lead the industry. These
systems are typically comprised of a plurality of discrete shelving or
other product display units that, once set in place, are almost never
moved during the lifespan of the store, unless there is a complete
remodel of the establishment. The reasons these shelving systems are
almost never moved is because they have historically not been designed to
move, and the normal practice of the retail industry has not been to move
them. That is why nearly all Center Store shelving systems include
shelving units, refrigerated units and product display cabinets are
placed in long parallel straight lines creating straight aisles for
consumers to walk through.

[0010] Promotional activity within the Center Store is usually limited to
materials making special announcements connected to the shelves of the
shelving systems and on-the-shelf promotion which includes tags promoting
the product, coupon dispensers, sampling dispensers, advertising signs
and shelf talkers.

[0011] A consumer, upon entering an aisle with parallel positioned
shelving systems extending on both sides thereof, is typically looking
for specific items and then moving on to the next aisle, and usually pays
little attention to advertising. It is thus a challenge for companies
marketing Consumer Product Goods (CPG) to get the attention of the
consumer in such linear aisles.

[0012] Promotional activity within a store sometimes includes signage on
the floor at the entrance to an aisle, or perhaps banners extending
across the aisle overhead announcing a promotion. But these floor placed
signs and overhead banners are usually not particularly effective because
they are not directly in the line of sight of the consumer walking
through the aisle and thus not well focused on the product offerings on
the shelves.

[0013] The most effective and highly coveted promotional locations within
the traditional Center Store are the 3 or 4 foot areas at the end of each
aisle in which transversely extending shelving or display cases 26 can be
positioned. These shelf end display facilities are called "End Caps" and
can readily be seen by consumers from a distance as well as when they
enter an adjacent aisle. In fact, it is fair to say that nearly all
consumers will see or at least glance at an End Cap product offering of
specials and/or promotions by a CPG purveyor, or the store itself in
promoting its Private Label brands.

[0014] In fact, it is not unusual for CPG companies to pay significant
sums of money to the store for the right to display their products on an
End Cap for a one or two week period. This is usually the case within the
larger national chain stores wherein typical Center Store sales, on a
national average, represent 66% of the total store sales. This can of
course vary depending on the geographical location of the store.

[0015] However, Center Store sales have been declining for traditional
grocery store chains over the past 10 years or so, due to the intense
competition from the large national and international discounters.
Supermarkets simply cannot price-wise compete against the discounters on
many Center Store items, so have accepted this fact and have tried other
concepts to promote their products. For example, many supermarkets have
chosen to focus on the store Perimeter area wherein they feel they can
compete more favorably with the discounters. But most have experienced
little improvement.

[0016] As discussed above. supermarket design for the Center Store has
been the same for as long as there have been supermarkets, i.e., straight
aisles with straight rows of gondolas or fixed shelving holding the
products, or straight rows of refrigerated or frozen food cases. Although
the large vendors will pay for the privilege of having their product
displayed at the end of the aisle on End Caps, where their product can be
easily seen by most anyone coming into the store, there are very little
other areas of the store for these vendors to promote their items other
than on the shelves. Only a few large vendors get the larger floor space
that allows for big displays to get the consumers attention. But
consistent with the old saying "Stack it high and watch it fly", these
companies pay dearly to have their products in such spaces.

[0017] Another concern is that branded vendors have always had to battle
with the stores over placement of product competing with the store's
Private Label brands. Private Label brands are normally sold for lower
prices in the store because most stores usually spend relatively little
in marketing the items. But some of the national CPG vendors have
significant resources available for marketing and in-store promotion of
their competing products, and thus find success even though their
products are usually higher in price than the Private Label products.

[0018] There is thus a need for a completely new and unique layout for the
Center Store area of a retail establishment; one that offers a radical
departure from traditional layouts for the Center Store, and one which
creates more desirable space for all concerned to promote their products

[0019] There is also a need for a new and unique layout for the Center
Store which, through sale of PrimeZone space to the larger vendors,
creates an additional profit center for the store.

[0020] There is in addition a need for a novel Center Store solution which
adds flexibility to the shelving design so that the store can configure
and reconfigure the shelving layout in a PrimeZone space to accommodate
the promotional needs of those vendors who are willing to pay a premium
for the privilege.

[0021] There is yet a further need for a design and layout that offers
PrimeZone space for promotional signage within the Center Store which in
the past has been limited to off-the-shelf, floor or banners above the
aisle signage; such solution providing yet another potential profit
center for the store.

[0022] Still another need in the field of the present invention is the
provision of shelving and other display units mounted on glider devices
attached to the supporting leg posts of shelving units and the like,
which enable movement, leveling and positional fixation for the units.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention addresses the above stated needs by providing
a radically new Center Store design and shelving layout concept which
allows selective configuration and reconfiguration of the orientation of
certain shelving units and display systems within the central portion of
the Center Store; herein referred to as the "PrimeZone", so as to create
a new assembly of additional End Caps, novel Center Caps, Power Sets.
Triangular Corners, Hot Spots and Banner Boards, the combination of which
provides an ideal solution for enabling retailers to re-invigorate their
Center Store, increase their vendor promotional revenue, and increase
their in-store sales due to more favorable consumer response to greater
promotional activity and the periodic change of product venues in key
areas of the store layout. In addition, novel display unit supporting
hardware is provided which enables the convenient reconfiguration of the
shelving layout to accommodate vendors desire to change display schemes.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating in simplified plan
view a novel Center Store shelving system layout creating a PrimeZone in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIGS. 2a-2g are plan and elevational views illustrating the angled
intersection of shelving units in a PrimeZone shelving system in
accordance with the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a perspective view further illustrating the improved
Center Store including a PrimeZone in accordance with the embodiment of
the present invention generally shown in FIG. 2;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating that which a consumer
would see standing at a position 4 as depicted in FIG. 3 and looking in
the direction of the associated arrow;

[0029]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating that which a consumer
would see standing at a position 5 as depicted in FIG. 3 and looking in
the direction of the associated arrow;

[0030]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating that which a consumer
would see standing at a position 6 as depicted in FIG. 3 and looking in
the direction of the associated arrow;

[0031]FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating in plan view further
details of the previously illustrated embodiment of a PrimeZone in
accordance with the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the component parts of a novel
glider device for attachment to the legs of shelving units and other
product display systems to enable leveling and movement from one position
to another in accordance with the present invention;

[0033] FIGS. 9a and 9b are partially broken axial cross sectional views
depicting the assembled glider device of FIG. 8 and illustrating
attachment thereof to the lower end of a shelving leg post or the like;

[0034] FIG. 10 is a simplified perspective view showing the glider device
of FIG. 8 affixed to the lower end of a shelving leg or the like in
accordance with the present invention;

[0035] FIGS. 11a and 11b are perspective and cross-sectional views
illustrating a positional locking bracket for use with a glider device in
accordance with the present invention; and

[0036] FIGS. 12-17 are diagrams schematically illustrating in plan view
several alternative embodiments of PrimeZones in accordance with the
present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS THE INVENTION

[0037] As pointed out above, and as illustrated In FIG. 1 of the drawing,
the traditional Center Store includes a plurality of long parallel rows
of shelves and other product display units defining customer walking
aisles formed between the rows of product display units.

[0038] In FIG. 2 of the Drawing, a Center Store arrangement 30 is depicted
including an embodiment 32 of a PrimeZone in accordance with the present
invention. The PrimeZone 32 is an area within the Center Store in which
at least some of the gondolas 41 and other product display units may be
mobilized by gliders, disclosed below and affixed to the legs or bottoms
thereof, so that the units can be selectively positioned and organized in
a designed arrangement, fastened together and locked into position until
a new design arrangement is desired, at which time the arrangement can be
unlocked and reconfigured without substantial inconvenience and/or cost.
It will be understood that the PrimeZone is normally intended to be
formed in a central portion of the Center Store, but can be expanded to
include any portion thereof.

[0039] The PrimeZone store layout differs from the traditional Center
Store layout in that it offers to CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) vendors
significantly more opportunity to effectively promote their products
within the Center Store of a supermarket or other retail establishment.
This is accomplished by allowing the store proprietor to work with
product vendors to configure arrangements of gondolas (shelving units)
and other product display units in ways that enable the vendor to better
display and promote its products.

[0040] The PrimeZone 32 may be generally described as an area normally
within a central portion of the Center Store and having an improved
arrangement of product display units and/or systems. The improved
arrangement is accomplished by (a) providing breaks in at least a first
row and an adjacent second row of the usual plurality of long parallel
rows of product display units; (b) providing a first elongated product
display unit (or system including a plurality of display units) oriented
to have one end thereof disposed in engagement with an end of a display
unit or system of the first row adjoining one side of the break in the
first row, and having the length thereof extending at a first angle
relative to the length of the first row and toward the break in the
second row; (c) by providing a second elongated product display unit (or
system including a plurality of display units) oriented to have one end
thereof disposed in engagement with another display unit or system of the
first row adjoining the other side of the break in the first row, and
having the length thereof extending at a second angle relative to the
length of the first row and toward the break in the second row; and (d)
by providing means joining the other ends of the first and second
elongated display units (or systems) to form a first alcove-like Power
Set area within and around which to display products. The joining means
can include a simple connection mechanism, a single product display unit
or an elongated, multiple unit product display system.

[0041] In addition, and as will be further discussed below, because of the
unique configurability of the aisles and the flexibility of use of the
shelving systems of the present invention, the PrimeZone design concept
offers the opportunity to create an abundance of promotional areas and
features including the availability of additional End Caps 34, Center
Caps (described below), Power Set areas 36 and 38, Triangular Corner
units and Corner Boards 40 (described below), Banner Boards (described
below), and Hot Spots (described below).

[0042] The new configuration and flexibility of the display units and
aisle configurations, as defined in part by the angled positions of the
several movable shelving systems, allows the provision of additional End
Caps in the PrimeZone as depicted at 34. The End Caps 34 are typically 3
to 4 feet in width, 21 inches in depth and 7 feet high. An End Cap can be
a shelving unit with multiple shelves, a platform that allows the
retailer to stack cases of product at the end of a row of shelving units,
or a cooler/freezer unit, for example. End Caps are typically provided at
both ends of an aisle-defining shelving assembly (see 26, 34), and are
used primarily for promotional purposes, but sometimes include a
refrigeration unit offering cold drinks, refrigerated foods and/or other
types of food products.

[0043] One of the advantages of a PrimeZone product display configuration,
such as that depicted in FIG. 2, is the ability to focus the consumers
view on particular products or groups of products as they enter and
proceed along an aisle. Instead of merely having only the open remote end
of the aisle in their direct view, as in the traditional linear parallel
aisles configuration depicted in FIG. 1, the PrimeZone design positions
angled shelving units or other product display units 42, herein referred
to as Center Caps, to at least generally face customers as they enter an
aisle.

[0044] Center Caps 42 consist of the one or more product display gondolas
41 or other product display units that form part of the systems 43 (shown
by dashed lines as an assembly of six rectangles 42 in FIG. 2) that are,
in accordance with the present invention, positioned in angular
relationship relative to the traditional row of aisle-shelving to which
they are joined. Thus, as a customer starts walking down the aisle across
which the Center Cap shelving angularly extends, he/she will be able to
clearly see product and promotional materials that are displayed in, on
and around the Center Cap unit.

[0045] Depending on the size of the store, and as depicted in the examples
shown in FIGS. 12-17, there can be multiple product display units angling
across an aisle from one traditional row of shelving and extending toward
or into and perhaps through a break in an adjacent row of shelving that
would otherwise define a long straight aisle of a traditional store
layout. An angular relationship (usually of about 60 degrees) of Center
Cap systems 43 to a traditional row is offered herein as an example, but
it is to be understood that the actual angle of shelving intersection to
be chosen for a particular application can be virtually any angle suited
to the promotional activity and products to be promoted or displayed.
Center Cap systems are typically 4 to 16 feet in length (including one to
four pairs of 48'' product display gondolas, coolers, etc.) depending on
the size of the store and the promotional activity; but they can of
course be made larger or smaller.

[0046] As depicted in the plan and elevational views of FIGS. 2a-2c, the
angled intersection of the ends E1 and E2 (FIG. 2a) of a shelving system
43 (formed by a plurality of longitudinally aligned product display units
41) with a traditional store row of display units 41' presents a
triangular opening or cell within which a Triangular or Trapezoidal
Corner unit 40 can be installed. In the illustrated example, the Corner
unit 40 is of a trapezoidal configuration including four vertical posts P
and associated shelving typically disposed at levels corresponding to the
associated adjacent shelving units. In such case a triangular void "V"
might be left in the space immediately there behind or it might include
additional shelving. Alternatively, a five post Triangular Corner unit
such as that illustrated in FIG. 2g could be used.

[0047] As will be described below, a plurality of clamps or other suitable
fasteners are used to fasten the Corner unit to the posts of the several
adjacent product display units. Furthermore, as will also be described
below, vertically adjustable glider devices and positional tie-down
brackets may be affixed to the lower ends of the vertical posts P to
facilitate movement, leveling and tie-down of the gondolas.

[0048] It will be noted that in addition to providing extra shelf space,
the Triangular Corners units can also serve as supports for promotional
signage, as depicted in FIGS. 2c, 2e and 2f, or other marketing devices
such as video screens, sound equipment, promotional literature, coupon
dispensors, etc.

[0049] In FIGS. 2d-2e an alternative embodiment of a smaller Triangular
Corner unit 40' is similarly illustrated for use in the case where the
several front and back shelving units are longitudinally staggered
relative to each other. In such configuration, the Triangular Corner unit
40' is smaller in frontal dimension than in the previously described
embodiment but is functionally similar. This arrangement likewise
provides a display opportunity for shelf space and promotional signage,
objects and materials.

[0050]FIG. 2g is a perspective view further illustrating the Triangular
Corner unit embodiment of FIGS. 2a-2c, and by extension, the embodiment
of FIGS. 2d-2f, The Corner units may include one or more shelves or
frames for supporting advertising display boards (Corner Boards) or
posters. The Corner units may also include flat panel video display means
to permit animated product display, product use demonstrations and
consumer interactive information panels or the like.

[0051]FIG. 2h depicts two vertical support posts P1 and P2 of the type
used in many commercially available shelving units, and a clamping style
fastening device C used to fasten the two posts together. The device C
can take many forms but the illustrated two part clamp consisting of
front and back members C1 and C2 secured together by a suitable screw or
bolt B is considered ideal for the present application, because when
attached to only one set of adjacent shelving unit corner posts, it
allows one of the units (or sets of units) to be rotated in position
relative to the others to assume a different angle of intersection
between contiguous shelving systems.

[0052] As depicted in FIG. 2, the three sided Power Set areas 36 and 38
are formed by the illustrated two sets of shelving systems (including
Power Set units 35 and 37, and Center Cap units 44 and 48) angling toward
and joined to a third shelving system (including Power Set units 39 and
Center Cap units 46) that is disposed to extend parallel to an adjacent
aisle on the other side of the third row of shelving units. The Power
Set/Center Cap shelving systems can have any of a variety of
configurations and can be located anywhere along the length of an aisle,
but are usually positioned near the middle of a Center Store and help to
define the PrimeZone 32. Other examples are depicted below in FIGS. 12-17
of the drawing.

[0053] Power Sets create a significant billboard effect partially
surrounding and defining the Power Set areas (36, 38) and can be
advantageously used to the benefit of a CPG vendor. The ability to
effectively promote, within a relatively small common area, several
brands or related products owned by or represented by the vendor provides
a powerful promotional advantage. The brands marketed within the Power
Set area might, for example, include refrigerated products as well as
frozen and shelf stable products. Power Sets also allow the vender to
display products within the surrounding aisle space in either free
standing form or other specific configuration, and to display promotional
materials/information on the area-framing pair of Corner units 40.

[0054] The underlying advantageous marketing concept is that a consumer
will be drawn into a Power Set area due to its configuration, and because
it represents a "section" of promotional activity. A Power Set can
include display frontage as long as 24 feet or so in length including,
for example, nine four foot product display sections framed by Corner
Boards, but the configuration can be of almost any size, composition and
configuration.

[0055] Triangular Corner units 40 of the type illustrated do not currently
exist in the traditional Center Store areas because the typical shelving
system layout is one of linear parallel rows of display units. Moreover,
Triangular Corners exist in PrimeZone areas as a consequence of the
unique relative positioning of the several shelving systems used to
define the PrimeZone. The Triangular Corner units provide great
opportunities for Corner Board advertising, sampling, couponing, or a
combination of all the three, as well as other possibilities mentioned
above.

[0056] In addition to the angle of intersection of the product display
units, the front width of the Corner unit is determined by whether the
front and back rows of shelving units are longitudinally aligned or
staggered relative to each other. As pointed out above with respect to
FIGS. 2a-2c which illustrate the aligned gondola example, and FIGS. 2d-2f
which depict the staggered gondola configuration, the Triangular Corner
units are typically 22'' to 44'' at the front and reduce to substantially
zero inches at the rear as both sides thereof converge on the corner
junctions of the adjacent shelving units.

[0057] Hot Spots are focal point areas (see 50 and 52 in FIG. 7) within
the Power Set areas and other open areas and are so called because of the
strong response of consumers to displays that are interruptive, large and
stacked high. There is a saying in the industry to the effect that if you
"Stack it high, it will fly". Traditional positionings of floor stacks
are typically found in the perimeter of the store and at aisle ends, but
never in Center Store as there is no place in an aisle for such displays.
If such displays were used in the current shelving schemes, they would
block the aisles and interfere with the customers' use of the aisles.
However, in the PrimeZone configuration, Hot Spots do not block an aisle,
but do cause the consumer to take notice to a floor stack of products, a
manufactured display promoting one or more brands of products, and the
products displayed on the surrounding shelves. Hot Spots can be a little
as 2 feet square or much larger depending on the size of the Power Set
area. The height of a Hot Spot is based on the particular product and/or
display, but typically would be 4 feet to 8 feet high. Hot Spot units can
also be used in other areas as described below with respect to FIGS. 4, 6
and 7.

[0058] Turning now to FIGS. 3-6, perspective renderings are provided to
present the actual look and feel of one embodiment of the present
invention. In the overhead view of FIG. 3, the reader can readily
identify and appreciate the details of the various components previously
described with respect to the plan view of FIG. 2. The various elements
and areas of this embodiment are labeled with the same call-out numbers
used in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, Hot Spot units within the Power Set areas 36
and 38 are, for simplicity, depicted as stacks of nested tables but can
take any suitable form as pointed out above. Again for simplicity of
illustration, the Hot Spots 52 and 54 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7 are
not depicted in FIG. 3. Also not shown in FIG. 3, are the advantageous
locations for placement and display of Banner Boards (60-63 in FIG. 4).

[0059]FIG. 4 is a lower level view of the PowerZone components that would
occupy the visual attention of a customer entering the aisle and looking
in the direction of arrow 4 (FIG. 3). Note that the customer's attention
will be quickly captured by promotional messages or products displayed on
the remotely positioned End Caps 34 and the Triangular Corner units 40.
Products displayed on the Center Caps 42 and 48 would then come into full
view as he passes along the aisle and through the nearby End Caps 33 on
both sides of the aisle. This figure also illustrates 2 Hot Spot units 52
and 54 which are not shown in FIG. 2 or 3 but which can be positioned in
the open spaces formed between the End Caps 33, 34 and the respective
pairs of Triangular Corner units 40 as also depicted in FIG. 7. In
addition, this view illustrates in dashed lines several positions for
placement of the overhead Banner Boards 60-63.

[0060]FIG. 5 is a lower level perspective view looking in the direction
of the arrow 5 in FIG. 3 and showing the clear visibility of the Center
Cap 42, and then the Corner unit 40 as the customer reaches the turn in
the aisle.

[0061]FIG. 6 is a lower level perspective view looking in the direction
of the arrow 6 in FIG. 3 and showing the Power Set area 36, the Hot Spot
area 50 and the clear visibility of the surrounding shelving systems 35,
37 and 39. It should be kept in mind that any or all of the illustrated
shelving systems could instead include refrigeration cabinets or other
forms of product display units. Note also that the nested tables 51
occupying the Hot Spot area 50 could alternatively be replaced by any
product stack or product display structure.

[0062]FIG. 7 is a summarizing plan view similar to that of FIG. 2 but
including representations of all of the PrimeZone components illustrated
and discussed above with respect to FIGS. 2-6.

[0063] A PrimeZone in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention may be constructed of either proprietary or commercially
available shelving units. Current state of the art shelving suitable for
use in embodiments of the present invention are typically fabricated of
welded stainless steel rod and tubular stock. Although such shelving
units are available with casters, the casters utilized are not deemed
suitable for the present application because of the large caster wheel
size.

[0064] To render non-wheeled shelving units movable among various design
configurations it is desirable that low profile glider devices be
provided for attachment to the legs of the display units. Preferably, the
glider devices should have a low profile so as to permit maximum use of
the available shelf space, must be easily attachable to the shelving,
must have a relatively broad footprint so as to avoid damaging the
supporting floor, must be adjustable in height to accommodate leveling,
and must be durable and capable of supporting the expected heavy product
loads. In addition, at least some of the glider devices must include
means for securing the shelving units to the supporting floor.

[0065] A new design for a glider device is illustrated in the exploded
view of FIG. 8, the axial cross sections of FIGS. 9a and 9b, and the
perspective view of FIG. 10. More specifically, the illustrated glider
device 70 is comprised of four basic components; namely, a cylindrical
outer housing 72, a roller carrying plug-like component 74, a plurality
of roller balls 76 and an apertured, ball capture plate 78.

[0066] In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 72 is comprised of
a generally cylindrical sleeve-like unit having an internally threaded
bore 82 extending axially therethrough, and a knurled or otherwise
textured band 80 press fit around its upper end to strengthen that end
and facilitate manual rotation thereof about the plug 74. The outer
surface may be provided with tool engageable flats 83 to facilitate
vertical adjustment (leveling).

[0067] The plug-like component 74 preferably consists of a metal cylinder
84 having external threads 86 formed on its outer cylindrical surface
along at least a mid-portion of its axial length; such threads being
adapted to be threadably engaged by the internal threads 82 in the bore
of sleeve 72. The axial length of plug 74 is preferably longer than the
axial length of the sleeve 72. Extending from the upper end of plug 74 is
a threaded stud 75 for use in attaching the device to the lower end of a
display unit leg. As an alternative for use with those shelving units
having tubular legs, an upwardly extending cylindrical bore, perhaps
internally threaded, may be provided in in the top of a lengthened plug
for matingly engaging a foot end of a shelving unit vertical post.

[0068] The lower end surface 90 of plug 74 is planar except for having a
plurality of hemispherical bores, molded cavities or sockets 92 provided
therein in a circular array, and may include a single, like bore, cavity
or socket 91 provided in the geometrical center of the array. The
diameters of the hemispherical sockets are chosen to be matingly
commensurate with the diameter of a plurality of roller balls 76 to be
seated therein. A pair of tapped bores 89 are also provided in the end
surface 90.

[0069] The ball capture plate 78 is provided with a plurality of
frusto-conical or frusto-hemispherical apertures 93 axially aligned with
the sockets 91, 92. Plate 78 also includes at least two small bores 94
for receiving screws or bolts 96 used to lockingly engage tapped bores 89
and secure the plate to the lower end of plug 74 to capture the balls 76
within the respective sockets but allow the lower portions of the balls
to extend through the apertures 93 to engage a supporting surface.

[0070] Referring now to FIGS. 9a, 9b and 10, the assembly of the glider
device and its mounting to the end of a leg or post of cylindrical or
rectangular transverse cross section will be addressed. As depicted in
FIGS. 9a and 9b, after the bearing balls 76 are positioned within the
sockets 92 and captured therein by the apertured plate 78 and its screws
96, the assembled plug is affixed to the lower end of the shelf
supporting post 100 by screwing the stud 75 into a tapped bore 98. The
sleeve 92 is then threaded onto the plug 74 until the roller balls 76 are
clear. At this point the glider device is fully functional to glidingly
support the leg of the display unit.

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 9b, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that by rotating the sleeve 72 in a particular direction about the plug
74, the engagement of threads 82 and 86 will cause the sleeve to advance
downwardly into engagement with the floor and result in the balls 76 to
be lifted from engagement with the floor. Such action will negate the
gliding function and may also be useful in lifting the leg to level the
supported shelving unit.

[0072] It will also be understood by those of skill in the art that with
glider devices of the type described above secured to the legs of a
shelving unit, the unit may by conveniently moved from one position to
another as the balls 76 roll within their sockets. Moreover, in order to
level the legs on an uneven supporting surface, the sleeves may be
rotated to drive them down the plug 74 and thus accomplish the leveling
function.

[0073] In many jurisdictions, and particularly in those known to
experience earthquakes, building codes require that shelving and other
heavy objects be anchored to the floor. In accordance with the present
invention such anchoring is facilitated by disposing an anchoring bracket
102 (FIG. 11a) between the glider device 70 and the lower end of the
shelving leg 100 as depicted in FIG. 11b. In this embodiment, the glider
stud 75 is either passed through or threaded through a tapped aperture
104 as the stud is threaded into a tapped bore formed in the end of leg
100. A bolt or lag screw 106 can then be passed through an aperture 108
in the lower flange of the bracket 102 and threaded into a suitable
sleeve 110 disposed in a bore formed in the floor. Note that in order
that the bracket 102 not interfere with the rolling use of the glider,
the lower extremity of the lower flange must be positioned higher than
the ball bottoms. A washer of a suitable thickness will allow a secure
engagement of the flange to the floor as the bolt 108 is tightened.

[0074] FIGS. 12-17 are examples of alternative configurations of the
shelving systems within the PrimeZone. The End Caps, Triangular Corners,
Power Sets, Center Caps, Hot Spots, Center Cap Banners, Banner Boards and
Corner Boards are identified as indicated in the legends.

[0075] It is to be understood that although the present invention has been
disclosed above with respect to particular exemplary embodiments, it may
be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit, scope or
essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to
be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than
by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to
be embraced herein.

Patent applications by Lawrence J. Brucia, San Anselmo, CA US

Patent applications in class Having feature perfecting the dispensing of articles

Patent applications in all subclasses Having feature perfecting the dispensing of articles